The Sandbox hosted its inaugural Global Creators Day, unveiling plans to empower creators and achieve 2,000 user-generated experiences on its map by 2024. The platform boasts an ecosystem of over 200 creator studios, 130,000 creators, and 24,000 LAND owners, with a substantial user base in Asia. The event, held in Hong Kong, featured co-founders Arthur Madrid and Sebastien Borget, Chief Content Officer Nicola Sebastiani, and Director of Creators Ecosystem Mathieu Cervety.
Three significant launches were announced to enhance user-generated content (UGC) within the platform:
- Opening of The Sandbox: LAND owners can now instantly publish their completed experiences on The Sandbox Map, removing the initial application process and accelerating UGC.
- New Game Maker Version (0.9): The no-code Game Maker will receive an update introducing new gameplay mechanics, templates, and social interactions before the end of 2023, simplifying content production and enhancing player engagement.
- New 100M SAND Game Maker Fund: Starting in 2024, a $100 million fund will empower creators through a DAO-based selection system, rewarding creation, content, and engagement within the platform.
The executive team emphasized The Sandbox's vision of providing a participatory, engaging, and rewarding form of entertainment. The platform's recent additions include eight new cultural and geographical neighborhoods on its map and the sale of over 125,000 LAND parcels, representing 75% of its map. Nineteen avatar collections were launched in 2023, and The Sandbox aims to accelerate its push towards a new form of entertainment by opening nine new neighborhoods and partnering with IPs and celebrities.
The platform encourages creators to participate in over 30 contests throughout the year, with the first IP, Avenged Sevenfold, participating. This approach positions The Sandbox as a unique destination "where gaming meets culture," fostering a dynamic synergy between user-generated content and brands.
The event signals a new era of UGC and digital ownership as The Sandbox strives to onboard users to the decentralized metaverse. With over five million registered wallets, 800 global partners, and a 20% year-on-year increase in playtime per user, The Sandbox aims to onboard the next billion users into a metaverse ecosystem that is open to creation by anyone and playable by everyone. The mobile version is set to launch in 2024, contributing to mass adoption for the open metaverse concept. Over 400 partners, including Warner Music Group, Ubisoft, and Snoop Dogg, have joined The Sandbox, aligning with the team's vision of empowering players to create experiences using both original and well-known characters and worlds.
